Winter is here and it can cause all kinds of problems for your car. If it’s been a while since you last replaced your car battery, read up. Freezing temperatures and harsh winter weather can cause your battery to take a real hit and if your car battery is already wearing out, this winter could do it in. Luckily, there are a few ways you can help preserve the life of your battery throughout the winter, whether it’s new or old. In the long run, these tips will also help much more than just your car battery.
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You may not look forward to driving in nasty winter weather but take advantage of those decent days in between if you must. Your battery charges while you drive, so if you leave your car sitting parked for long periods of time, it can actually drain the battery. This is especially true with older batteries and during cold, harsh seasons that already make it harder for your car battery to fully charge and then get your car started.
When you do drive your car, try to take it on longer drives whenever possible. This allows the car battery to store up more of a charge so when you leave it sitting for a while, it’s more likely to still be able to start up again. When possible, it’s best to drive at least 30 minutes to ensure the battery has enough time to fully charge. This isn’t always possible but it’s a good idea to try and do whenever you can, especially throughout the winter months.
It helps to keep your car as protected from the elements as possible. During the winter, having a covered parking space will protect your car from snow and ice accumulating on it. Even better, storing your car in a garage also provides some insulation from the cold temperatures that can make it hard for your car battery to charge.
If you don’t have the option to park your car in a covered spot or garage, there are still other options for you. Using a thermal cover can help protect your car from snow, ice, and cold temperatures to a degree. It may be able to help your battery hold more charge through the winter so that you’re less likely to come out to a car that won’t start.
The best way to ensure your car battery works through the winter is to keep up with regular car battery and electrical system maintenance. A mechanic can easily check how much charge your battery is able to hold and therefore how much life it has left. They can also check all of the wires and connections around your barrier, as well as other parts of your car’s electrical system, which can impact its ability to charge.
Problems anywhere in your car’s electrical system can keep your car battery from fully charging or holding a charge. If your alternator is failing, it can even drain a charged battery. It’s important to keep all parts of the electrical system in working order to help your car’s battery, especially through the winter months.
There is some simple maintenance you can easily do at home, too. Every so often, it’s good to lift up the hood of your car and check the connections and wires around your battery. If you see any dirt or corrosion, you can easily clean it off with a mixture of baking soda and water. This will help prolong the life of your car battery, though if it’s on its last legs, it will still have trouble holding a charge.
Let the expert mechanics at AAMCO Utah help keep your car battery healthy through all the seasons. Whether you need a battery replacement or diagnosis of another underlying problem, we’ll help get it repaired so you won’t have to worry about getting your car started again.
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The post How to Protect Your Car Battery from the Cold first appeared on AAMCO Utah Transmission Repair and General Car Repair.
